Bulova 1951 -Non-Conforming

Submitted by Absolutgeist on July 21, 2023 - 4:04pm
Manufacture Year
1951
Movement Model
10BT
Movement Date Code
L1
Movement Jewels
17
Case Serial No.
4595314
Case shape
Rectangle
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

Art Deco style watch.

Movement:  10BT Unadjusted, 17 Jewels

Serial number on caseback: 4595314

Size: 25*33 (roughly)

Front
Movement
Case inside
neetstuf-4-u
Posted July 21, 2023 - 5:08pm

Interesting watch. I'm thinking it might be a marriage of parts of different watches. Date code on the movement is L1 (1951), what is the code on the case back?

From 1950 to 1955, the closest I can see for the case is Ardsley, but the dial is different.

The minutes track on the dial doesn't match the case opening. Movement (10BT) would be correct for Ardsley, but the dial is clearly not. Still pondering.....

neetstuf-4-u
Posted July 21, 2023 - 6:12pm

OK, that helps alot. Watch is very likely a 1951 Ardsley with a replaced dial. I will wait for other panel members to weigh in on whether to classify this as a modified Ardsley or Non-conforming. Non-conforming is a classification we use for watches that are a combination of parts that doesn't match known ad  identified watches.

mybulova_admin
Posted July 22, 2023 - 6:11am

I agree that this watch is likely to have the dial and movement deom another watch as we can see that the dial minute track is incorrect for this watc case.

1951 Non-Conforrming, but noting that the case probably was that of a Bulova Ardseley.

neetstuf-4-u
Posted July 22, 2023 - 8:16am

In reply to by Absolutgeist

That's pretty challenging, as precise measurements come into play. The dial looks to me to be older than the watch case and movement. This style of dial was popular during the early to mid 1940's, so that's where I started my site scan. Here is one (1943 with a 10BS factory installed 15J movement) that by appearance is a good possibility, but this is purely a guess on my part.

Absolutgeist
Posted July 23, 2023 - 8:17am

In reply to by neetstuf-4-u

Thank you, that gives me a hint. It is interesting that like other people I associated art deco watches with the 40's while they were in production in the 50's as well. And I guess they went out of fashion in the late 50's. I am really happy with my Bulova and I think I will get some still.

 

Geoff Baker
Posted July 22, 2023 - 9:07pm

I agree that this watch is a marriage of several different watches.  1951 Bulova Non-Conforming.